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How is Toyota going to Top Themselves for Gen V?

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by inferno, Aug 2, 2016.

  1. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    So with the regular Gen V the EPA rates the Gen V 4% more efficient. For the Eco model it's 12% more efficient.

    Now Toyota's aim was mainly to do 10% each generation.

    Would the upgrade of the Capacitor really do it?

    Plus...Real world figures I think are showing 22% improve above the previous generation. And that's the figure that matters the most:
    Toyota Prius Mileage | Fuelly

    So again...will the Gen V actually be like 70 mpg + for many drivers?

    This is ridiculous and awesome!

    Of course we are about 6 years away still... ;P
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm thinking gen 5 may be a whole new tech.
     
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  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    More light-weighting with the carbon fiber etc. where possible with cost.

    Possibly, like the solar Prime, adding ways to passively charge up the HV batt so you get 10+% of your miles with no gaso and no grid elec. I would like to see say a 2-3 kWhr batt that could be charged wirelessly in your garage or other wireless location. I'd be willing to accept a slow charge up rate especially if I thought slow could be cheaper implementation. My idea give us a wireless charger the car owner can buy a solar panel to plug into the charger for off-grid charging.
     
    #3 wjtracy, Aug 2, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2016
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    we need to think outside the box.
     
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  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    How is Toyota going to Top Themselves for Gen V?
    I'm just going to say it.....

    "Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang" trim designation.
     
  6. Starship_Enterprius

    Starship_Enterprius Active Member

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    The usual light weighting... maybe use more carbon fiber body parts along with downsized lighter powerful batteries, more efficient engine, smaller electric motors, brakes, etc.

    But that will no longer be enough.

    So I'm hoping they are finally forced to do severe changes like radically futuristic aerodynamic shape, use more efficient narrow wheels a la BMW i3, use lightweight chairs, use camera side mirrors, etc.

    Just dreaming lol
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    • Greater use of carbon fibre (maybe some of the Prime stuff will migrate to the regular Prius?)
    • Greater use of ultra high-tensile strength steel
    • Greater use of bioplastics
    • Maybe an ultra-capacitor so that you can still regen under harder braking, further reducing the use of friction brakes. It can also help with acceleration (kinda like an overboost function that some turbo cars had)
    • Solar panel roof to charge said ultra capacitor while driving
    • Greater aerodynamic improvements
    • Smaller, lighter HSD components
    • More efficient HSD components
    • Greater engine thermal efficiency (it's been going up by 2-3% per generation)
    • Downsizing the engine? (only if the battery chemistry improves to provide more than 1 mile of EV range).. but then you need power for high speed cruising (parts of Europe and US)
    • Inclusion of Valvematic technology
    • Improvements in tire technology for LRR
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @inferno should the V's in your first paragraph be IV's?
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    1000 psi tyrs.
     
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  10. dangrass

    dangrass Junior Member

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    Mirai. Seems that hybrids aren't really part of the long term plan.Toyota has made it clear that hydrogen fuel cells are the way it wants to go, so I would expect increased focus on that direction as opposed to technology that will eventually go away.
     
  11. Autoist

    Autoist Member

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    Hydrogen... the car will be made out of solid hydrogen. It's the lightest element so rolling resistance will be much lower than other materials. Oh... wait... they have to invent how to make solid, room temp, hydrogen first... scratch that idea. ;)
     
  12. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Perhaps a mid-cycle refresh, release to North America every Prius option they have already engineered and are selling in Japan.

    Bob Wilson
     
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That only works if it's applicable to the U.S.. Not every option is.
     
  14. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Solar technology - not totally, but as part of the equation?

    I read a few years ago about flexible panels which "could" become structural panels, though I think they were talking about home roof panelling. Solar has improved in efficiency by 6% (or 10% or 12½% in some reports) in the last few years and cost has come down to just a fraction of the cost. There was also a Solar "panel" paint somewhere in the works.

    Just possible.

    I suspect that with the amount of research into batteries globally, that smaller, lighter weight, increased capacity batteries will be the most significant improvement. It's not just car companies pushing the envelope, but tech, smartphone, industrial applications etc.
     
  15. KimPrius3

    KimPrius3 Member

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    Couldn't have said it better myself. (y) No really, I only understood just a few of the things you wrote. Solar panel roof sounds good. ;)
     
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Let the customer (aka., market) decide?

    Bob Wilson
     
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  17. booke02

    booke02 Active Member

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    There will be some minor improvements in many areas (such as areodynamics, engine efficiency, etc.), but the the two big areas will be weight reduction and improved battery technology/energy harvesting.
    Alternative power sources (such as hydrogen and WiFi charging) are interesting, but it is going to be a longggg time until there is sufficient infrastructure in place to make it a viable alternative.
     
  18. Starship_Enterprius

    Starship_Enterprius Active Member

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    Maybe diverge the Eco model further to become a smaller 2 door model in the direction of the original Honda insight and let it carry the burden of 10% improvement from henceforth.
     
  19. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

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    I am very sensitive to that idea since they downsized the PiP lol.

    Yes, create a Prius with 2 doors and you automatically get MPG boost and most likely it'll be better than the late Insight.
     
  20. Kevin_Denver

    Kevin_Denver Active Member

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    An area where there is still a lot of potential for improvement is the aerodynamics. For example, this ecomodder got his Civic down to an estimated 0.17 coefficient of drag: Aerocivic - Honda Civic modifications for maximum gas mileage - aerocivic.com That means at any given speed, his car has about 30% less air resistance than the latest Prius, and he built the mods by hand! Using factory parts and a proper lab to test the aerodynamics in, even lower numbers should be possible. The gen 4 drivetrain in a car with that Cd is looking at 20%+ improvement in mpg on the highway. I would love to see a super aerodynamic version of the Prius with a full boat tail. Perhaps call it the Prius Aero?

    Also improvements in the hybrid system to further isolate the most efficient engine states can be done. It's well known in the 2nd gen Prius that the engine is optimized for most hp output per amount of fuel used in the 1400-2200rpm range. If the electric motors and battery have enough charge, they can compensate for high and low power outputs requested from the user from the gas pedal and the engine can run just in the most efficient range for the majority of use. This is largely how hybrids are more efficient than normal cars the first place.